Topic: Choose To Believe – Friday September 8, 2017.

John 12:39-40 “Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”

Text: John 12:37-40

This could be interpreted as the ultimate teaching in predestination. That interpretation would be that these people were never given the opportunity to believe because of Isaiah’s prophecies. However, the Word of God makes it clear that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13); “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20); and “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). No one has ever been denied the opportunity to accept salvation (Ti. 2:11).

Mark 6:5 says that “he (Jesus) could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.” In that instance, it is evident that the reason Jesus couldn’t do any mighty work was not because He didn’t possess the power, but because He chose not to use that power against a person’s will. He couldn’t perform the mighty works because of His decision to uphold our freedom of choice.

Likewise, these Jews could not believe because of their choice to reject Jesus. They could not believe because they chose not to believe. “They stumbled at the stumblingstone” (Rom. 9:32), which was Jesus.

Isaiah did not predestine them to this fate. Rather he saw that very few would receive the report (Isa. 53:1) about the Messiah, and therefore would be kept from the knowledge of salvation because they rejected Him in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found (Col. 2:3). This is what Isaiah prophesied, and it came to pass. Be careful what you choose.

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net)

Topic: The Effects of A Curse — Friday 8, September 2017.

Memorise: He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.  – Proverbs 11:26

Read: Judges 9:16-24, Judges 9:45-57 (KJV)

16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

18 And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

Judges 9:45-57:

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.

54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 17-18, Ezekiel 38:1-16, Hymn: Sing hymn 6 – Deeper, Deeper

MESSAGE:

From today’s Bible reading, the effects of a curse are glaring and obvious. Jotham was a son of Gideon who escaped the murderous rampage of his brother Abimelech. After Abimelech had killed seventy of his brothers, Jotham stood and placed a curse on him and the men of Shechem who conspired with Abimelech to carry out this evil act. Three years after this curse was pronounced, God sent an evil spirit to bring about the fulfilment of the curse. In the process of the curse being fulfilled, so many terrible things happened. Land and property were destroyed, a large part of the population was annihilated and ultimately, the cursed Abimelech died. May you never come under a curse! And if you are already under any curse, it is broken today in Jesus’ Name! Let me tell you a story heard when was very young. An old man met a bubbling young man on his way to the farm one day. Being advanced in age, the old man was bent, used a walking stick and limped slightly. Seeing this old man, the young man began to laugh at him, so the old man asked him what he did to deserve such ridicule. “Why shouldn’t l laugh? What can you do?” the young man asked, and the old man replied, “I know am too feeble to run after you or fight you, but the basket is never satisfied with water”, and then he went on his way. Suddenly, a strong thirst gripped the young man. He dashed to the first hut and asked for water. After drinking so much, he continued his journey. Not long after, he became thirsty again. He stopped at the second hut and drank so much water. Thereafter, he returned to the first hut to ask for some more water, and the people there discerned that something was definitely wrong with him. “What is wrong with you?”, they asked. He told them, “One old man said to me, “The basket is never satisfied with water”.”Really, can you describe this old man?” He did, and they accompanied him to search for the old man, until they found him and begged for his forgiveness. The old man gave in, and then pronounced, “Alright, from now on you cease to be the basket, and you will begin to have satisfaction”. That was how the young man was delivered from the strange thirst.

Coming Up Next: Open Heavens 9 September 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Only His Will

Do everything possible to avoid being cursed by God. If a curse from a fellow man can be disastrous, how would a curse from God be? If your biological father curses you, you can run to your spiritual father or pastor, who has spiritual authority over you, and he can cancel it. If your pastor curses you, you can run to the general overseer set over him, and he can cancel it, though he will also demand that you restitute your ways. However, if God curses you, to whom will you run?

Prayer Point: Father, help me never to partake in anything that will attract curses to my life

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Keep The Right Company [Thursday September 7, 2017]

The company you keep determines the accomplishment you make.

A star player in the midst of unco-operative player can be turned into a poor player.

It takes iron to sharpen iron. Prov.27:17

Mind who you work with, carefully select your work companions. Prov.13:20

Never allow an unwilling, unexcited, unenthusiastic and pessimist to hang around you.

Keep an excited company of workers to remain connected to inspiration.

Excited workers helps to bring the best of you out. Whereas an unexcited person will demotivate you and freeze your brain, and drain your energy.

Topic: He Shall Surely Return [Thursday 7, September 2017]

Memorise: “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:11

Read: Acts 1:8-11

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 39-40. Hymn: Sing Hymn 10

MESSAGE:

One of the major messages of the Bible is that Jesus Christ will return visibly and in glory at the end of history. First to raise the dead, judge the world, and then destroy all evil and opposition to God. Christians are encouraged to be prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ with eagerness and joy. In Acts 1:11, two angels announced the Second Coming of Christ by saying:

“…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.”

However, because at least two thousands years have passed without the actual fulfilment of this prophecy, unbelievers and Christians alike are beginning to doubt the reality or possibility of rapture or the second coming of Jesus Christ. Brethren, do not be deceived, JESUS IS COMING BACK. The second coming of Jesus will occur unexpectedly at God’s appointed time. Be warned, be watchful and be ready.

Prayer Point: Father, please give me the grace not to get weary while waiting for Your second coming in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: The Mystery of Heaven — Thursday September 7, 2017.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. — Psalm 23:6

What will heaven be like? Just as there is a mystery to hell, so there is a mystery to heaven. Yet I believe the Bible teaches that heaven is a literal place. Is it one of the stars? I don’t know, I can’t even speculate. The Bible doesn’t inform us. I believe that out there in space where there are one thousand million galaxies, each a hundred thousand light years or more in diameter, God can find some place to put us in heaven. I’m not worried about where it is. I know it will be where Jesus is. Christians don’t have to go around discouraged and despondent, with their shoulders bent. Think of it-the joy, the peace, the sense of forgiveness that He gives you, and then heaven, too.

Prayer for the day: Whatever I face, Lord, my heart rejoices in the knowledge of my ultimate destination—heaven— where I will live with You for eternity!

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: Glorious Living by the Grace of God— Thursday September 7, 2017.

Text: John 14:12, John 16:7, Zechariah 4:6b
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. *Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. *… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

One of the greatest things that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ does for us is that it causes us to become just like Jesus and function like Him on this earth. Jesus became just like us so that we can become just like Him. He came down to our level so that He could raise us up to His level by His glorious power and grace. By His grace, God is continually forming Christ in you so that Christ can be revealed and manifested to the world through you, Gal. 1:15-16. God’s plan for us is that we will be conformed to the image of Christ, Rom.8:29. God wants us to be like Christ in all things, Eph.4:15.

Child of God, do not be unnecessarily preoccupied with how you will become like Christ and function like Him, as God desires. In the same way the Holy Ghost came upon Mary and the power of the Highest overshadowed her (Luke 1:35), by the virtue of the Holy Spirit, the power of God will also overshadow you. Your major responsibility is to keep your eyes on Christ and to continue to behold His glory. The glory of Christ is full of grace and truth (John 1:14) and from the fullness of Christ, we receive grace upon grace, John 1:16. As we continue to behold the glory of Christ, the grace of God will continue to work in us and the Holy Spirit will continue to transform us into that very image of Christ that we see, 2Cor.3:18. By the grace of God, your life will be as glorious as the life of Christ. You will do His works and even greater works because of your faith in Him.

Prayer: I thank you, Dear Father, for how you are forming Christ in me by your grace and by your Spirit and as I keep my eyes on Christ.

Bible In A Year Reading Plan: Proverbs 1-2; 1 Corinthians 16

Empowered to do exploits…

CGMI Above Only Daily Devotional, was written by Most Rev. M.E. Benson-Idahosa, Archbishop of Church of God Mission International, CGMI.

Topic: Strike It Rich [Thursday September 7, 2017]

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. – Galatians 3:29

One of the problems that hung around me for years was poverty. But I remember the day I decided I wasn’t going to be poor anymore. I was reading in the Word where it says that the blessing of Abraham has come upon the gentiles by Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:14). Then I got down to the 29th verse where it says, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Suddenly the truth hit me. I got so excited I could hardly stand myself.

I turned back over to Deuteronomy 28 and—line by line—I read those promised blessings. “Blessed in the city, blessed in the country. Blessed going out, blessed coming in. Blessed in your barns, blessed in your fields, blessed in all the works of your hands.” Man, I had struck it rich!

I’d been going to school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I was living in a dumpy little house no one would want to live in. But when I read those promises in the Word, I saw the light. I realized God had already redeemed me from the curse of poverty.

Well, that afternoon in my back bedroom, I took my Bible in my hand and I said: “I want to announce to Almighty God in heaven and to Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to all the angels of heaven, to all the demons of hell, and to anyone else who cares anything about hearing it, that from this day forward my needs are met according to God’s riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

I told God, “I’m standing on Your Word, and I’m looking to You to take care of me. I’ll never ask a man for a dollar.”

That was many years ago and I never have. You know why? Because that decision connected me to the power of God. It’ll do the same for you.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 28:1-13

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: Manifestation Of Divine Proofs [Thursday September 7, 2017]

Scripture: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Thought For The Day: God is really at work in very unusual and frightening dimensions

We have thus far experienced all manner of amazing testimonies to prove the potency of the power of God in our lives in this year of Divine Proofs.

One striking manifestation of Divine proofs was the testimony of a woman, a member of our church, who needed Fourteen Million Naira to pay her child’s school fees in a university abroad. The woman brought the matter to God in one of our prayer sessions and asked God for an encounter and intervention.

When she got home that night, God appeared to her in a trance using my face. In that revelation, God used me to give her a telephone number to call for the school fees.

When she woke up, she recalled the number and wrote it down. She decided to call the number and when she did, behold, it was a sitting governor in one of the states in the predominantly Muslim northern part of Nigeria that answered the call. The governor asked who she was and she identified herself and told him that it was her pastor that gave her the number to call. The man pressed further and asked who her pastor was and she told him, after which the man said, “oh! That young man that always prays for Nigeria.” On his prompting, she told him her problem. The governor asked for her account details and thereafter transferred Fifteen Million Naira to her account.

This testimony amongst others proves that God is really at work in very unusual and frightening dimensions. As you put your trust in Him, you will see the manifestation of Divine proofs in your life in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: God is really at work in very unusual and frightening dimensions.

Assignment(s):

1. Ask God for more of Divine proofs in your life.

2. Take action steps to provoke your faith for Divine proofs.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for the impartation of the spirit of faith. Help me, LORD, to take faith-provoking actions to see Divine proofs in my life, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DIVINE PROOFS – THE SECRETS.

Amazing Fact: Three hundred million cells die in the human body every minute. Every day an adult produces 300 billion new cells.

Today In History: 7/9/1986 – Desmond Tutu was the first black to be installed to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa

Daily Reading: Song of Solomon 5:1 to 8:14, 2 Corinthians 9:1 to 15, Psalm 51:1 to19, Proverbs 22:24 to 25.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities.

Topic: Weaned From Covetousness — Thursday September 7, 2017.

Text: Psalm 119:33-40

Key Verse: “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness” (Psalm 119:36).

There was a shipwreck some time ago when a ship struck a rock. The lifeboat sent to rescue the crew drew near the sinking ship, and all got in safely except the captain and the first mate. “Get aboard,” said the captain to the mate. “Wait a minute, Captain,” and he dived down the companion ladder to fetch something from the cabin. The captain saw the folly of the act, and jumped into the lifeboat, hoping that the mate would soon follow. Before he could do so, a great wave struck the vessel; she rolled over and sank, and the unfortunate man cooped up in the cabin was drowned. A few days after, divers went out to see what could be done with the vessel, and they found the corpse of the mate in the cabin. In his hand was something tightly grasped.

They brought him on deck and unclasped his clenched fist. His purse fell out. They opened it. It contained-thirty-six cents! Had that man lost his life for thirty-six cents? “Ah!” you say. “What a fool!” But what are you risking your soul for? It may be either money or pleasure, but mark you, your soul is at stake. Today’s lesson opens with the psalmist desiring God to teach him His statutes with a firm promise to keep it to the end. After praying for understanding, he requested holy inclination unto God’s word, believing that would free his heart from covetousness.

The prayer continued along the same pattern with a request for his eyes to be preserved from beholding vanities. It takes a converted, cleansed heart to fully depart from the sinful allurements and preoccupation of the soul. It takes a strong desire such as we find in the text for this new life to begin. The blood of the Lamb liberates the soul from damnable attachment to sin through salvation and sanctification.

Thought for the day: A coveteous heart self-destructs.

Bible Reading in one Year: Leviticus 21-24

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Topic: You Are No More A Servant But An Heir — Thursday September 7, 2017.

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17 KJV)

Child of God, you are no more a servant but a son, having been adopted into the family of God. And as a son of the King, you have rights and privileges that automatically accrue to you, by the reason of your new status. You are an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ; which makes you legally eligible for an equal share of God’s blessings and resources. This means that whatever Jesus has access to, you also have the same level of access because the Father loves you just as much as he loves Jesus!

As an heir of God, not only do you have an inheritance in God, you also have a domain, a territory over which you exercise authority. Psalms 115:16 says the Lord has given the earth to the children of men. Revelations 5:10 (NKJV) says, “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Your son-ship rights must be expressed here on earth. Though man’s authority was lost to the devil through Adam, God in his love for us through Christ has restored us to glory. And we cannot afford to allow the enemy run roughshod over us any longer.

Beloved, you are a son, and the Father loves you dearly. Don’t allow the enemy to tell you otherwise. Refuse every lie of the enemy to make you feel inferior. If Jesus cannot be denied, then you likewise cannot be denied. And since you’re in Christ, the same measure of love is expressed to you. Desist from looking down in disappointment and despair because of needs that have not been met. Your need is already met. Your prayer has been answered already. There is no need that is more important or more precious than Jesus. And if he has given you Jesus, with him, he will freely give you all things.

Further Reading: Romans 8:1-32

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Proverbs 1-2; Evening- 1 Corinthians 16

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.